Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-11-25

are ulueT nO CIRCUMSTANCES ulOTe CeTIdln-
ly acquired, nor more assuredly improved
and quickened, than by often meeting
each other in the friendly contentious
and rivalries that characterize field
sports"
Recurring to the influence of political
institutions and national amusements, it
may be very safely affirmed that while
there can exist in this country no perma-
nent class of men possessing the wealth
which affords the time and cherishes the
taste for the more expensive diversions
of the turf and the chase, it must yet al
ways abound far beyond all other coun-
tries, under their existing governments,
in citizens of middling yet easy circum-
stances with means enough to indulge in
other sports Involving moderate outlay,
including the ownership of good old
squirrel gun and the luxury of good
horse; and hence the use of both is as IA
miliar to the great mass of American peo-
pie, from their childhood, as it is strange
to the common people of any other coun-
try; except as the employment of the
horse, in his lowest offices of field labor
and common drudgery. No Southern
boy at least, just entering his teens, de-
sires better finn than to be allowed to
catch and mount any horse in the most
distant pastures, and ride him home at
the top of his speed, without saddle or
bride; and as to the use of firearms, it
was remarked to the writer during the
late war with England, both by General
Ross and Admiral Cockburn, that in no
country had they ever witnessed any fire
so deadly us that of the American mill
tia as long as they would stand. In the
towns there is not sober and Industrious
| tradesmen who cannot manage to keep
his hackney; and these considerations
sufficiently account for the number of
regularly constituted trotting clubs of
easy access, with courses that serve as so
many nurseries, where the horse is edu-
Gated exclusively for the trot, and his
highest physical capacities drawn out in
that form. These associations are COM
posed for the most part of respectable
and independent mechanics, and others,
especially victuallers, among whom there
has existed at all times a sort esprit de
corps, or monomania on this subject,
which leads them to spare neither pains
nor expense to gain reputation for own
ing crack goer. This sort of emulation
so infects the class as to have given rise
to common saying that "a butcher al
ways rides trotter."
According to the theory here maintain
ed, the great number of trotters in Amer
lea that can go as before said their mile
under three minutes, and the many that
do it under 2 80, and even in some cases
2 :20-as for instance in the case of Rip
ton and Confidence, whose portraits from
the Spirit of the Times embellish this es-
say, is to be explained in the same way
that we account for the great number OF
superb hunters that are admitted to
abound in England above all other coun
tries, not excepting our own. There, in
every county in the kingdom, are organ
lied "Hunts" with their "whippers-r
and huntsmen and earth shoppers" ant
costly appointments of every kind to ac
commodate some fifty or an hundred
couple of high-bred hounds, whose pedi
grees are as well preserved as those Of
Priam or Longwaist; and wide distric
of country is reserved and assigned ex
clusively to each hunt. FoX-hunting i;
there termed par excellence Il princey
amusement, and gentlemen of the mos
exalted rank and largest fortune TAXI
pride in the Office of master of tn,
hounds, and assuredly in all the wild,
field of manly exercises, none can com
pare with an English fox, or steeple
chase. for union of athletic vigor or dar
ing skill and magnificence of equation
unless perhaps, it were some splendit
read of made by the gallant Muiat at
critical moment of the battle, when h,
was wont in his gorgeous uniform ant
towering plumes to fall with his cavalry
like an avalanche upon his adversary
confounding and crushing him at a blow
Truly it would well be worth tril
across the Atlantic to see a single ''turn
out of an English hunt, in all their fai
tops. buckskin smalls and scarlet coats
: mounted on hunters that under latter
sails hammer would command from on
! to two hundred guineas. Imagine sucl
! field with thirty couple of stauncl
hounds, with heads up and sterns down
: all in full cry and well away with thei
, fox.
Now my brave youths,
, Flourish the whip nor spare the CALLING spur
But in the madness OF delight forget
Your fears. Far over the rocky hills we rang
: And dangerous our course; but in the brave
True courage never fails"
: To indicate more strongly the preva
} lence of this Partially for trotting horse